TARRYTOWN, NY - The annual U.S. Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award sets out to spotlight companies that work to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging, taking actions to ensure that 100 percent of their packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2023. Meeting these standards, Jac. Vandenberg was recently honored for its efforts in the compostability category.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the U.S. Plastics Pact and Walmart. This award proves that there is an immediate compostable, plant-based solution that gives everyone in the fresh produce industry the opportunity to reduce their plastic and carbon footprints to help improve the environment,” said Brand Marketing and Sustainability Manager John Paap in a recent announcement. “There is simply no time to wait, let alone another two years. We know the solution exists today for this particular packaging. It’s time that we as an industry make this switch as part of our collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis.”

Vandenberg’s PackNatur® cellulose tube netting was chosen as the compostability winner by a panel of expert judges in circularity and packaging engineering from leading retailers and sustainability organizations, a press release explained. The criteria were based on the improved environmental impact of the product, likelihood of commercial viability, and the level of potential impact in moving the industry toward circularity.

The PackNatur netting is made 100 percent from beechwood sourced from FSC® or PEFC-certified forests and offers a sustainable solution for the fresh produce industry’s standard plastic mesh netting (PP #2) and film wrap (PP #7) bags typically used for citrus, avocados, potatoes, and other products.

“The U.S. Plastics Pact is excited to announce that PackNatur cellulose tube netting is the winner of the compostability category for the 2023 Sustainable Packaging Innovation Awards. Conventional produce netting is challenging to recycle and has been included on the list of items the U.S. Pact is investigating for our Problematic & Unnecessary Materials list,” commented Emily Tipaldo, Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact. “The judges for this year’s panel were impressed by this certified-compostable alternative that can typically run on existing bagging lines and potentially increase the shelf-life of the product. Jac Vandenberg’s circular innovation presents an exciting solution in a challenging space.”

Click here to read more about the supplier’s latest accomplishment.

For more fresh produce news, stay here on the pages of ANUK.

Jac. Vandenberg